Alright you M4C folks who are so free with my wallet! My local distributor will be picking up the S&W line in a few weeks. As I am trying to do my part to help them succeed in business I was planning on getting a new pistol from them. I currently don’t own a 9mm, although the wife has a G19. I have been eyeing an M&P as you all can’t seem to say enough good things about them. I have been wondering about the 9L as this will be a range toy only. The S&W website really sucks when it comes to M&P details so I have a couple of questions that I thought that I would throw out here,
Can I get FDE or OD?
Is there an appreciable difference between the M&P 9 and the 9L?
If you could get a M&P or have an M&P what would/did you change on it?
I want a straight up DA striker trigger, no safeties or decockers so mods like this don’t interest me.
I would go with the pro over the 9L as i believe the slide is slightly lighter since it has a different scalloped cut on it.
Also, i believe the new Pro series guns are coming with an improved firing pin safety block so you can save 20ish bucks there. Also, the performance center sears are quite nice although i believe the apex sears are a better product.
I also dig the sights on the Pro over the 9L as they are definitely serviceable and depending upon your needs most likely do not have to be replaced even though i personally believe the Warren Tactical sights are a better product.
If it were my gun the only thing i would replace would be the sear BUT depending upon your needs the performance center sear may be just enough trigger for you. Its all about personal preference.
Last but not least, unfortunately as of right now, the 9’s only come in black, no OD or FDE.
The only “colored” frame on the M&Ps to date have been the FDE .45s. That said, some of the parts fit the 9mm, which is what I did with mine.
My M&P is my EDC, so my needs may be slightly different than yours. I got a FS M&P9 and did the following:
Beavertail reduction (stupid thing poked me in the love handles)
Stippling of backstrap, frontstrap, mag release, and index marks
Apex Sear
MA compliant trigger return spring
Warren 2 dot night sights
The sights are hands down the best I’ve seen on a defensive pistol, the stippling helped grip, the APEX sear gives a night smooth trigger pull, and the MA compliant spring helps give a more forceful and definite reset. I will likely be adding an APEX firing pin block when it comes out to finish smoothing out the trigger.
Given all the mods I had planned, it just made sense to buy the normal FS with non-night sights to get the base gun as cheap as I could. Again, for a range toy, YMMV.
Get a 9L
Get an Apex Sear, firing pin plunger, and firing pin block
Get some Warren Tactical sights
Then go out shoot a guy with a stock 9L Pro.
I dont care for fiber optic sights. I think the Apex sear is a better sear than the performance center sear in the Pro model(I dont think I am alone in that thought either). I dont have the firing pin plunger or block yet, but I am going to order them. I think the plunger is going to do more than the block, but while I am in there I might as well do it all.
The 9L serves no useful purpose, IMO. The appeal of the pro is the better sear…but now S&W is releasing standard sized pros, which makes getting sights and holsters easier.
The beavertail reduction is something that I would be interested in doing.
I am also considering a texturing job eventually. I had been hoping to find a good used G17 for that first but haven’t seen anything I’ve been interesting in buying.
As for sights, a good set of night sights will fit my needs.
We have had issues on our range with broken Hi-Viz style pistol sights and I am leery.
I am not sure I’d like a really light trigger, most of the pistols that I have are 6lbs plus.
All my pistols are black, I thought something different would be nice for a change but if black is how they come then black is what I’ll get.
All my pistols are either compact or sub-compact for work or concealment. I thought that a full-size or longer would be a nice addition to round out the stable. The last full-size pistol I owned was a HK USP, and a M92 before that. Something with a nice long sight radius would be nice this time around.
Like I said, I haven’t heard a negative thing here about the M&P, one can’t find a more ringing endorsement. The least I can do when my shop starts selling them is buy one.